’’....a time to turn the page! He who lives in the woods and forest, will at getimians break forth into the many places of solitude, where he sits with the wood spirits as they offer forth words of wisdom and truth….”

….as i walk out the stories that have been written within my-self,mine eyes have be-come more conductive to light and darkness,which has be-come a most use-full tool in my tool wrap called life,for what individual can dream and then see their dreams bear fruit….

….in my earliest blog stories here i talked of the connection that feeds,that connection was of what will each of us do with imagination and dreams,one can take the approach that all this is an abstract of deny reality in seeing,or one can choose to be-lieve for the betterment that comes from excogitation….

….so once again i started be-lieving in my-self and decided to conduct from life,which in turn took me back to my tree roots where i embarked to be-come intertwined,with wood once again and then a lumberjock friend sent me a beauti-full wooden box,that wooden box be-came a tease to me as i watched it day to day from a spot of envy….

….that was when I remembered this piece of a wooden burl in the barn be-coming enamored,enamored with beauty of a maple burl from where I sat was the passion that be-came fire,now that one has beauty and the passion of wood brings us to a point of action and decision, by which we will all be known of men as a talker or doer before the doors of truth and love….—by flp———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Once upon a time about three years ago I cut a maple, in order to relieve the stress being put upon that part of our land of too many trees that were beginning to clutter. My wife was with me clearing the clutter of fallen branches while I also de-limbed. We were breaking new ground and creating a new road into a part of the forest we had never taken the atv into, except by walking. When I’m working out here with my wife….there’s not much stopping since she’s the opposite of me….no-silence, no-meditation out here, but we also know each other very good in the forest which makes for good, safe work together out here.

As with all log gathering, very often you will come upon a tree that for some reason of design just draws you. So it was with this tree, and even though this one had a burl on the side of the tree, that alone is not the purpose of why I cut this tree. So I took the chain saw and brought this one down and the next step in this logging process would be my burn pile. Can I count the times that a piece of the tree is saved from the firewood pile not to face into the belly of the beast….our wood-stove?

”….if one could walk into the mind of a wood burl, what would the understanding be. Greater and larger trees than this one have all met face to face with the wood cutter, who ply’s his trade so that other’s might have wood. It’s not the wood that one takes, but the wood that is found that produces sculptured wood beauties such as I have loved. Together, tree and I conduct an agreement that passes the rights of one into the hands of an-other. By this covenant we will live-die and abide….”

“….did you take the time today to really stare into the face of this cut maple burl? On the face of it there appears the saw marks that re-moved the burl from from the tree and this is all bathed in light. Next I look deeply into the inner face, where the soul of this burl draws forth her strength and beauty. Here I find darkness so that just like a lady she might enshroud her-self till the time of more exposure….”

This log sat in the deep woods some years, far removed from other’s eyes till I could finish the atv road. And then my strength gave out, excessive anemic condition, along with all else that comes with liver dis-ease….the whole package and more. Next came the settling in of what the doctors and surgeons told me, so I put away all my logging and woodworking tools….this be-came my hell on earth. Over a year ago a friend of mine dragged the log in to be cut up that day for firewood, this is when we noticed the burl and cut her off. The covent we made (tree and I) back then is still in effect today, plus I realize this one piece of ‘wood art’ might be my last. These decisions are not in my control any longer and so I live the moment of now in each and every day.

There is a lot more yet to come as I transform this ‘in the ruff and buff ’ burl into what I hope can be worthy of our covenant (between tree and I) and that this burl will have some-thing to say beyond words.

Let’s hope this is not your last – but we should treat every piece of wood, every project as if it was – otherwise where are we rushing to? Each piece should bear our stamp and be as worthy of our attention as nature has attended to it for decades.

Looking forward to how you can tease the meaning and beauty out of this piece, with your stamp on it.

What a beautiful weaving of words. That burl must have been huge for such a large cut. I would love to see what it contains.

Wood is not only a source for heat, hearth and homes….but contains the pattern of life as laid down by the creator…individual, without equal…a worthy partner to the wood artist.

Take care of yourself Frank…do not over do it as liver disease does not like stress or exhaustion….I have seen what hepatitis can do…(which is certainly bad but not the worst) the liver is such a necessary organ…which supplies so much to the body for it’s proper function…I hope a donor becomes available soon for you…I have a friend that received a transplant and has been doing very well for the last 12 or so years.

Grand words my friend, as always. I too look forward to what your imagination brings forth from this labor of love. In my thoughts and prayers and always will be. God Bless You Frank. You have given us so much pleasure from walk a bout wonders and a skilled pen. mike

-- (You just have to please the man in the Mirror) Mike from Michigan -

Frank, I have always admired your ability to see/feel and understand what is hidden within the wood. Having the ability to bring out these hidden jewels is a gift. Thanks, as always, for sharing your gift with those of us who would look at this and only see a piece of firewood.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Did you see the portrait of a bear at the top of the burl? This piece is a virtual zoo. there are several animals I can see in there. Maybe I just have a too vivid imagination? I see at least 6 different animals in there after only a few minutes.

I kept silentI embraced silence as you askedI waited long…and listened for the songsThe wind plays in the Summer trees, And dirges in the gray broken boughs of Winter.

Fighting through the strifeUnimaginably trying to imagine art and beautyAs I once knew.

Each moment more painful than the lastStacking up like fretful haunting dreamsUntil I could gather up parts of myselfand throw them as leaves on an Autumn fire

Fighting for calm and peace and deep understandingUntil the many moments distilled into just one A MOMENT that I could live within… here..nowThe hope of saplings that do not fear sharp steel ,The beauty in the circle of all that is Life .

These are things I wish for you.It is comforting to hear your voice againand to listen with you….here…now

Hello All;....sorry if I am taking too long for a reply here, but you must remember I said I’m slow.I’ve got to leave out early in the morning and get up to Lebanon, NH (DHMC) to see a Hematologist and have more test run on me….probably will see the bood vampires.

Long day so I’m off to dream land now….mental attitude and physical being are all doing good! I will get back and give feedback on all your wonder-full comments soon.

Frank: I just heard that you might have passed on from this world, into the world of wood spirits. If this is your last post on LumberJocks. We wish you the best journey. Are prayers are with your family God bless them in this time of sorrow.

Let us know if you are present or maybe your family can contact us. My email in my signature line.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware soon moving to Virginia karsonwm@gmail.com †